Four people “go blind” waiting for NHS treatment in Cornwall

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has been placed in special measures, after inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that at least four patients had suffered significant sight loss while waiting for treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Two earlier inspections in 2016 and June 2017 had already criticised the Trust’s long waiting lists, poor leadership and lapses in safety. The latest report states: “An increase in demand for the wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) clinic had not been met. This meant patients were not being reviewed within a safe timeframe. At the time of our inspection there were 1